Why We Walk: Danielle

When Danielle Wallace, 33, of Portland, OR, had twins four years ago, she started taking them on daily walks in their stroller. "I needed to get out of the house and recharge," she says. Seven months later, when she discovered that her neighbor across the street, Erika George, 33, was also a new mom, she invited her along, thinking Erika might need a break herself. "We had barely exchanged more than a friendly wave, but once we started walking it didn't take long to see that we had so much in common," says Danielle. Their families started having dinner together and even went on skiing and camping trips together. And two years after they had started walking, Danielle and Erika had their next babies just a day apart. But the foundation of their friendship continues to be their afternoon walks, usually around 4 p.m. "The kids are in their strollers with their snacks, talking and singing songs to each other, so Erika and I can chat without getting interrupted -- a true luxury," Danielle says. "If it weren't for walking I don't think Erika and I would've become best friends, and I'm so happy we are."